Biography

Ok. These are the basics. I suggest go to the official website, because it is afterall the best. This is a slightly revised excerpt, there's more here: www.systemofadown.com

System of a Down

System Of A Down was formed organically, the members' shared diverse musical and personal experiences and with that they created unique and explosive music.
Because of this new buoyant, incendiary rock that the industry was craving, Rick Rubin elected to sign and produce the group as the first new act on American Recordings under a recent pact with Columbia Records.
The intensity of metal, the social commentary of rap and a plethora of influences, ranging from the band's Armenian heritage to jazz to Middle Eastern melodies to the nightly news, has made System Of A Down a top draw in their home burg of Los Angeles.
The band's agenda has always been clear and uncontrived: "Our goal has been to stay open to whatever currents guide us through our lives --
musically, thematically, in every way, to be ourselves," explains SOAD's soft-spoken, but big-voiced, singer Serj Tankian."
Our songs and themes range from political to social to daily angst to love to hate to dope."
However, the band emphasizes, "we do music because we love it, and our agenda is not just political.
We'd like to touch every sense of our audience: visual, auditory, taste, touch...."
"We don't just concentrate on an aggressive emotion, though we have that.Anger becomes more angry when you're quiet at first.
That's key to our dynamics," Serj explains."We have the openness to go anywhere.
It goes without saying we're a heavy band, but we can also do a love song."
In other words, in the musical medium of System Of A Down, all are welcome.
"If you're into surprises, being taken for a ride, I think you'll like the music, no matter what type of music you're used to listening to," Serj believes.
"We have a lot of people who like our sound who have never been into heavy music.
We have cross-genre types of music lovers."

System Of A Down Covers the entire musical spectrum, ranging from death, hardcore, punk, rap, hip-hop, goth, metal to jazz, dance, funk, folk, rock, electronic, classic rock, pop, blues, alternative, Native American, European, Armenian, and Middle Eastern music, among those of which Serj can remember.
Serj is 30 years old and was born in Lebanon and came to LA at an early age. His dad is a musician and used to play and sing; so ever since he was little he was exposed to melody and music and always held a special place in his heart for it.
Before System Serj played keyboards, then moved into being the lead singer of Soil. John, age 25, was also born in Lebanon then moved to Toronto and finally ended up in LA.
Shavo, now 23 , was born in Armenia. Daron, 22, was born in Glendale, Ca. and also played in Soil before system.

Even before System Of A Down were signed to American Recordings, local, national and international press got in on the ground floor, hearing a new musical revolution in the air.

"This debut will be one of, if not THE most important heavy rock records of the year." -HITS

"The band's songs are fueled with rebellion and protest. And its diverse music which blends metal, rap, hardcore, jazz and Middle-Eastern melodies expresses the need to stir up the great American melting pot and unite against prejudice and injustice." -Pulse

"Their leonine muscularity and machine-like tightness rocks way hard." -Bam

"A must-see act...his[Serj]singing was intense, roaring with raw guttural tones one minute and pulsing into cross-fire rap the next." -Music Connection

"Making a big splash in local clubs..." -Los Angeles Times

"THE next big agit-politicos." -Kerrang! (England)

"Where did SOAD get their name?" The most-asked question. "It came from a poem our guitarist, Daron, had written, called 'Victims of a Down,'" explains Serj. "He brought it to us, and 'System' was chosen as a better, stronger word, and it makes it into a 'whole,' instead of the people in particular, it's the society."
Ultimately, Serj advises people to "Take your own meaning out of our name. It means different things to different people.
That's the beauty of it. It's like putting art up on a wall, and going, 'what do you think of it?' It's many different things, on a personal, a political level. We leave it open to interpretation." "Our heritage, our politics are really important, but our musical vibe together is the thing. Our live performances speak for themselves." - System Of A Down